The Shanty, Brooklawn, May 15th 1869

My dear friend, I have just received your kind note of the 11th with your notice of the Autumn Sheaf. I had seen the previous notice; but did not know to whom I was indebted for it. I am glad to learn that it came from so valued a source as yourself.

[page break]

I should have written your name upon the fly-leaf if I had known you were the editor of the Republican. I can now only send it to you on a slip, which I enclose. My little volume has met with better success than ex- pected. I have but a few copies left, as only 300 were issued, and 200 were subscribed for. My pretentions are not

[page break]

great, and I have outlived in a great measure the ambition of youth. If my poems find a response in a few humble hearts, I shall feel quite satisfied. I should be glad to have our lamented Thoreau’s journals well edited & published. I should however prefer Mr Emerson for the work, if he would undertake it, which would be expecting too much of him. I hardly think Mr Higginson knew Thoreau well enough to do him justice- He & T. had few points of resemblance,

[page break]

while Mr E. and T. had many. I do not know anything about Mr Blake’s literary ability, but his deep regard for Thoreau, would, [underline] ceteris paribus, [/underline] render him a very proper person for the task. I enclose a few original lines for your paper if they please you. Mr Emerson has just closed a very successful course of six lectures delivered in the chapel of the Unitarian Society of New Bedford. Yours very Truly, [underline[ Danl. Ricketson [/underline]